Trapping Dimethyltin Cations by Bipyridine‐ N , N ′‐Dioxide Ligands

N , N ′‐dioxide ligands such as 2, 2′‐bipyridine‐ N , N ‐dioxide (BPDO‐I) and 4, 4′‐bipyridine‐ N , N ‐dioxide (BPDO‐II) were used to trap the hydrated dimethyltin cations under controlled hydrolysis. The use of the chelating ligand BPDO‐I leads to the isolation of the discrete monocation [Me 2 Sn(BPDO‐I)(OH 2 )(NO 3 )] + [NO 3 ] – ( 2 ), whereas the linear ligand BPDO‐II directs the construction of cationic polymers, [{Me 2 Sn(OH 2 ) 2 (μ‐BPDO‐II)} 2+ {NO 3 – } 2 · 2H 2 O] n ( 3· 2H 2 O) and [{Me 2 Sn(μ‐OH)(BPDO‐II)} 2 2+ {NO 3 – } 2 · H 2 O] n ( 4· H 2 O) under different reaction conditions.